That seemed entirely the wrong reason to date someone.
Ellery closed her eyes again, wishing she had the strength to just turn off the damn phone.She wanted to sleep for a thousand years.
Though when she closed her eyes, all she saw was Dante.His face, his hands, the strum of his fingers along the frets, against her skin.
Tears welled behind her eyes but she swallowed them.There was no use.He was out of the country, sailing the North Sea and playing the Eagles for fleece-jacketed boomers.He hadn’t talked to her in months, not since the articles about her and Chris had been published.She had sent him text after text, trying to explain that it hadn’t been real, but he hadn’t responded.
Yearning sliced through her so sharply it stole her breath.
“Ellery?Did you hear me?”Logan repeated.
“Southampton.”The word was a whisper, a half-baked idea, but as it emerged, it solidified and took form.
“What?”
“London.After this tour, I’m going to London.”
Logan sighed again, and she pictured him pinching the furrow between his brows.“Fine.Just let me find you an appropriate escort.I’m sure I can dig up someone to pretend to date you in the UK.”
Ellery hung up without saying anything else.London to Southampton.Dante would be in Southampton at some point.She could surprise him.Yes.That was a good idea.She would have to surprise him, since he wouldn’t answer her texts.
Only a little longer.Georgia to Louisville to Milwaukee to Denver to LA.Then she would be done.
CHAPTER35
Four Days Ago, Milwaukee
Selene:Please tell me you’re somewhere with reception.
Dante Baker:We’re in port.How are you?
Selene:Shitty.Any chance you can leave?
Dante Baker: What do you mean?
Selene:I mean we need you
Dante Baker: What happened?Is El OK?
Selene:No.We’re here in Milwaukee and everything’s gone fucking shitty.Not that it was perfect before, but she’s in total meltdown mode.
Dante Baker:What?Shit, sorry.Woke my bunkmate.What happened?
Selene:Idk.She held it together before now, barely.She’s like a zombie up there.You would barely recognize her, but people lap up the story they believe and they don’t know how amazing she really can be.They never saw her before, so they think this level of “good” is all she can do.Idiots.
Dante Baker:Selene.What about today?
Selene:We were going on stage, and she was shaking so badly.Honestly.I’ve never seen anyone tremble like that, I thought we were going to have to take her to the hospital.
Dante Baker: Did she take something?
Selene:No, I don’t think so.Lo and I have been checking, and there’s no drugs or anything.I think it’s just being here, being back in Milwaukee… The memories, you know?
Dante Baker: shit.
Selene:yeah.She almost dropped Jasper.
…
